Leonardo’s By the Slice

Unless you have been living under a rock, you know that some of the best pizza on campus is Leonardo’s. However, some people do live under a rock and have no idea what Leonardo’s is.
Leonardo’s by the slice is a small pizzeria that sells amazing pizza by the slice. It’s fast and cheap, so, it’s perfect for all college students. Whatever pizza you get, you are sure to be amazed. Even the plain cheese is life-changing.

One of Leonardo’s hidden gems is the side salads. My personal favorite is the Ceaser salad.
The Ceaser salad is a large portion with creamy Ceaser dressing and a side of lemon which adds a nice touch.

The salads all come with two garlic knots and a side of marinara sauce. You get a lot for a $4 side salad.
So, if you are looking for a quick, cheap meal stop by Leonardo’s By The Slice and check out their website.

Big Lou’s NY Style Pizzeria

If you’re looking for excellent pizza that will fill you up, yet not break the bank, look no further than Big Lou’s NY Style Pizzeria. This authentic pizzeria, located at 5 SE 2nd Ave., has enormous pizza slices that are sure to fill you up. The slices come in standard cheese with the option to upgrade them with numerous topping that range from basic pepperoni to out-of-the-ordinary tempeh.

If you are not big on pizza, or just not feeling it, they have amazing baked pasta dishes. I decided to try the baked ziti, and it was amazing. When you think of classic Italian pasta, this is what you think of. The dish was large and steaming hot. It came in the same dish it was baked in to ensure quality “yumminess”.

Morgan Reitz, 19, is a student at UF and visits Big Lou’s frequently.

“Everything is a really good deal,” Reitz said.

Reitz ordered a slice of cheese pizza and a side of pasta with marinara sauce. She says that the combination of the two is enough to fill her up.

“My side of pasta was a pretty large portion, given the price,” Reitz said.

So make a trip to downtown and try some of Big Lou’s pizza or pasta. You will leave satisfied.

For more information visit Big Lou’s website.

Welcome to The Cheap Italian Gator

There’s basically one word that is always associated with being a college student-broke. We’re all poor not-so-adults trying to make it by from our weekly allowance, if that. Living in Gainesville, there are numerous places to go out to eat. Just take a stroll down midtown or archer road, and you’ll find many places to stop in and grab a bite. Flooded with everyday favorites like Olive Garden, Outback and Chilies, Gainesville offers many places for every type of palette. However, good these places may be, the real treasures lay in the heart of Gainesville, not on busy streets. Thus, I have created The Cheap Italian Gator, your one stop on Italian food with a budget! So stop by once a week to get your weekly dose of The Cheap Italian Gator!